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Corn milling function recorded
Bidna Mill is recorded as a tower mill used for corn milling.
Site overview
Bidna Mill was a former tower corn mill near Northam, between Northam and Appledore. The mill stood in a field known as Windmills on the Appledore side of the lane to Bidna, just beyond Knapp House. Specialist mill records identify it as a tower corn mill dating from around 1805 and now ruinous.
The tower fell into disrepair and became dangerous to cattle. In 1922, G. H. Cork of Watertown Farm contracted with Jim Beer of Appledore to take the tower down. The brick walling was later reused in a sea wall beneath Watertown Farm, while much of the stone base remained.
The site preserves the memory and remains of a local wind-powered corn mill in the Northam landscape.
Map
Map markers and directions links are provided for location reference only and do not indicate public access or permission to enter a site.
No site photograph is currently available. Images will be added as field visits are carried out.
History
Bidna Mill stood near Northam, between Northam and Appledore, in a field known as Windmills on the Appledore side of the lane leading to Bidna. It was a tower corn mill and is recorded by specialist mill sources as dating from around 1805.
The tower was built of brick on a stone base. After the end of its working life it fell into disrepair, and the open structure became dangerous to cattle wandering around and inside the remains. An earlier attempt to blow up the tower in 1908, when George Cawsey owned the field, sent part of the structure onto the roof of Knapp House.
In 1922, G. H. Cork of Watertown Farm, on whose land the mill stood, contracted with Jim Beer of Appledore for the tower to be taken down. Cork stipulated that powder was not to be used. The brick walling, about three feet thick, was later reused to build a sea wall beneath Watertown Farm. Much of the stone base remained after the demolition. The site is now recorded as ruinous, preserving a site-only survival of the former Bidna tower mill and its connection with the Northam and Appledore landscape.
Timeline
1805
Tower mill constructed
Bidna Mill is recorded as a tower corn mill dating from around 1805.
1908
Attempt made to demolish tower
An attempt to blow up the tower sent part of the structure onto the roof of Knapp House.
1922
Tower taken down
G. H. Cork of Watertown Farm contracted with Jim Beer of Appledore for the windmill tower to be taken down without using powder.
1922
Brickwork reused in sea wall
The three-foot-thick brick walling from the former tower was reused in a sea wall beneath Watertown Farm, while much of the stone base remained.
Sources and records
Bideford and District Community Archive article
Windmill World site entry
Mills Archive site record
Windmill World site entry
Mills Archive site record